leonard paid a visit to mount alvernia hospital yesterday to see his friends - greg, joy and their new borned baby, tricia who was delivered only a few hours earlier. it had been exactly 19 years and 5 months since he last stepped foot in the hospital, as he too was given birth to there. upon entering the vicinity and building, it suddenly occured to leonard that he might be in the wrong place, for the place appeared far more like a church than a hospital.

stood in the driveway, he saw a statue of the blessed virgin mary, and a few steps from the main entrance, a chapel with the tabernacle exposed. everywhere else, he found crucifixes hung on walls, statues of the saints and wards named after each of them. it was nothing like what one would encounter at any other hospital. leonard liked it. he felt so at peace, comforted and at home. a part of him felt proud to be a catholic, knowing that the hospital was actually part of the church. after all, it was the catholic church that established the first hospital and took care of the sick.

leonard met the family there after. they were physically drained from practically not having any sleep the whole night. but as he could see, nothing beats the joy of gracefully receiving the blessings of a new borned child. only a few hours old and Tricia's already such a beauty. for that afternoon, everyone's admiration was on the baby. Truely, she is a gift from God and leonard prays that likewise she too will grow up to be a gift to others.

Leonard thought, he is aging fast.... it was no longer aunties and uncles who are getting married and having kids, but cousins and friends of the same generation. he pondered over when his turn will come and how life will be like having to raise up kids. for a moment, it did not seem easy at all.